Innovating in an interdependent, costly and uncertain regulatory environment: the case of the mobility ecosystem

With the potential to provide a range of solutions to many transport problems, autonomous mobility and connected electric mobility have gained momentum over the last decade. However, the widespread transition to these innovations has not yet taken place. Several factors are influencing the pace at which these technologies spread. Firstly, the companies active in the mobility ecosystem are highly interdependent but sometimes have conflicting interests, which could potentially hinder their cooperation. Secondly, regulation is not yet based on these innovations. Thirdly, innovations require infrastructure changes and market players have to bear sunk costs. Companies are aware of these bottlenecks and are engaging in various strategies to overcome them. This thesis aims to identify and understand the strategies developed by mobility players to meet the challenges of the ecological transition and the rise of innovations specific to the mobility ecosystem.